The court in Anantapur issued the arrest warrant as Dhoni did not appear in the court despite three summons served in the past. It directed the police to present Dhoni in the court on July 16.The case relates to a picture on the cover of a magazine.

A leading B-magazine had carried the picture in its April 2013 edition. Dhoni was portrayed as Hindu god Vishnu with a sub title ‘God of Big Deals’ and holding products of several companies including a shoe in his hand.

Y Shyam Sunder, a local leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), had filed a petition in the court in February this year alleging that the cricketer hurt the sentiments of Hindus by denigrating a Hindu god.

The summons issued to Dhoni by the court on three occasions was returned. The court, which took up the hearing on Tuesday, issued the arrest warrant.

Similar petitions were filed against the Indian skipper in Delhi, Pune and other cities.